Memorial Day 2015

Honoring Memorial Day - 2015 - Century High School Field of Heroes - Annual replica of National Cemetery's - a small cross or star of David for each lost life.  So sobering and gratitude inducing!

 Such a wonderful heritage for so many years.

 Families and the big Army Fire Truck.

 We found some friends from our home ward - the Griffiths - she is a Special Ed teacher at one of the middle schools - he just finished a masters degree in computer security - they are expecting their first son in a week.

The just took a job in Washington, D.C. - US Dept. of Commerce - they will move there after the baby is born.  When Dad was Ward Mission leader, Kyle was the assistant - and still is!

Julie's Visit

 Friday May 22, after teaching school all day, Julie headed south to spend Memorial Day weekend visiting her family in Utah.  Her sister, brother-in-law and nephew will be there from Maine, for his brother's wedding.  It was such fun to have her even for a few hours overnight - she really likes her new ride - and it goes when she wants it to, plus the windows work, etc.  Not as good gas mileage as the old one - but getting good mileage when it doesn't run - not acceptable.

 Julie brought her cap and gown - since I forgot to get a picture when we went to Bozeman for MSU graduation - because we played instead of attending ... they ran out of her Master's Degree hood, but as you can tell - the sleeves of the robe are different.

What pretty daughter -in -laws we have!   This picture will go up on my Educational Wall of Fame!!

Sydney's new Apartment

 It was really fun to meet Sydney at her new Apartment Complex - thought I'd add a picture so the rest of you can recognize it when you go there!  Jordan will live in the complex in the fall.

 Sydney had just gotten back from a day teaching Outdoor Education at Badger Creek, Heidi and Jennie know where that is!   Her side of the room, she and her roommate have their own bathroom.

 Sydney and Grandpa in her new kitchen - there are three rooms, two girls each and laundry facilities in their apt.  One of the buildings is for Women and the other one is Men - sounds good!

We were happy to take Sydney out to dinner at Applebee's - she's such a talker - don't know where she gets that wonderful trait, huh?  Good food, great company!

Rexburg Temple

 Friday, May 22, we drove up to Rexburg to see Sydney and attend the temple - two sessions.
It was a pretty day, after a week of rain.

 A nice lady saw me trying to see the self timer and offered to take our picture.  We are helping our Home Teacher's wife with her large stack of Family Names - Friday I had Emma Grace Lewis, and Dad - Sam Foster - pretty neat,huh?

She was happy and took two pictures - people are usually willing to help.

Gaea's Graduation Announcement

 Here is Gaea's high school graduation announcement - she is going to Smith College next fall - Northhampton, Mass.  founded in 1871 - full scholarship!

Roller Derby

 Saturday afternoon Julie (Baby Jules) had a Roller Derby bout - we only had about 15 minutes to watch - but it was worth it!  Here is Julie's team in black and green, Spokane in blue - Bozeman won! Stan's text: Gallatin Roller Girls kicked some Spokane Booty!

I like how they play the Star Spangled Banner and everyone stand, hats off, and the girl with the flag skates around the track - yay for the USA.

 They always have a fun theme to the bouts - this was Game of Throws - people dress up and it is just a fun event all around.

 I thought you might get a chuckle out of the funny names of the contestants!

Julie said having an A and B teams has been a great thing - when an A team member leaves there is a B member to move up...Julie is Triple AAA to us!  We got to watch her in action - best blocker in the whole league!!!

Museum of the Rockies

 None of us had ever gone to the Museum of the Rockies - MOR...so we went!  There are more dinosaur findings in the state of Montana than any other state - it was pretty interesing.

 All these tricertops (sp) were found in MT - more than any other place in the world!

 A kind lady took our picture with the T- Rex in the backgound.

There were Native American exhibits and these old guns, and carriages, sleds, really interesting.

 Uncle Stan getting trampled by the T-Rex outside the museum!

Scary huh?

Walking the Dog and New Car

 On Friday after school we drove to Bozeman - arriving around nine - next morning we took Riddick around the neighborhood for a walk - he would grab the lease in his mouth!

 Kind of looked like he was taking himself for a walk!

 Silly fun dog - Dad loved playing with him.

Stan and Julie traded in the Floaters Shuttle white van and the green Subaru and bought this white Ectera - like Polly's = they are really happy having a more reliable car for Julie to drive.

Quilt and Flowers

 We had a small quilting party at the church for Mayor Blad's daughter - Jade -the cute girl in the middle...her mother is the pretty sister at the far left.  Sweet church ladies - two of them gave me money to help pay for the quilt - love them!  It turned out really nice.  Dad is the Blad's home teacher - and Mayor and Sister Blad are our ward nursery leaders!!

 Beautiful flowers Jennie and Jason sent to me for Mother's Day - on Wednesday!  loved having them all week and took them to the quilting party - should have taken a picture of the refreshment table - looked so pretty.  Then I took them to Church today - looked beautiful on the pulpit and graced two YSA Sacrament Meetings.

Notice the beautiful reblooming orchids in the background - Katie gave them to my a year ago!  They have been fun to watch grow - see the air roots at the bottom?  A whole new stem grew and now has 10 blooms on it.

Joel and North Carolina

Joel's 5th grade class choose different states to research and present - he choose North Carolina.  He dressed up as Orville Wright and found out a lot about the wonderful state the Hardy's call home.

 Funny Joel - or Orville!

 His 'float' was about Kitty Hawk and the Wright brothers first flight - he and Kate worked on it until midnight - and it turned out awesome!

They had to bring a food from their state - we thought of red velvet cupcakes, Pepsi was started in NC and lots of other things - decided on Mt. Olive dill pickles!  from North Carolina.  Jennie says they have a Pickle Festival each fall and they want to go - fun things like pickle rolling contests!  Way to go Joel!

Dave and Sherene Dillon

This picture is blurry - I was in a hurry to take it and didn't let the camera focus - - this is at Dave and Sherene's son Stanley's wedding reception in Bountiful, May 1st.  We drove down and the drove back.  It was a very sweet experience - when Dave saw us in the line - he started to cry - and gave us big hugs!  He was so emotional he couldn't even talk for a little bit.  He kept holding on to us - and I said the line is waiting and he said he didn't care!  Then when we sitting down eating, a man came over and asked Dad.  Are you Dave's professor?  yes - apparently Dave has told lots of people about Dad teaching him in graduate school at Carbondale, Illinois.  Dad baptized Dave (and Heather) - his first wife.  Anyway it was totally the fulfillment of Doc. and Cov. 18:15 - if you reach only one person - your joy will be full...something like that.  We basked in the sweet spirit all the way back home.  We will stop and spend more time with them either on our way June 1st to tend the Fairbanks girls, June 2-4 or on our way back.  Just wanted to journal this great experience.

Taysom's baptism

 This is the program from the baptism Saturday of our 16 year old investigator...it is the first convert baptism in this ward for about 3 years!  Dad has done a magnificent job as Ward Mission Leader! It was a special day for lots of reasons - this was the best.  Earlier the ward had the funeral of a 23 year old - left a 3 and 1 year old sons and husband.  We helped set up tables at the funeral home for the luncheon, and brought food.

 From the left - Amber - the 14 year old sister, Dad, Taysom, Elder Sincere, Elder Williams.  The Elders knocked on the Crump's door - Taysom was interested right away - and now 8 weeks later - hooray!  The Dad and sister are still taking a lesson or two.

Bryson Blad - the mayors son - Dad's their home teacher, Dad, Taysom and his older sister.  Never seen Taysom in anything but a green sweatshirt and jeans - until Saturday...We missed his confirmation today because of going to our new ward with the YSA's.  He will be a good addition to the ward.